RAF Ahlhorn

Royal Air Force Ahlhorn or more simply RAF Ahlhorn, is a former Royal Air Force station located 1 mile (1.6 km) south east of the centre of Ahlhorn, Lower Saxony and 11 miles (18 km) north of Vechta, Lower Saxony, Germany

RAF Ahlhorn (Advanced Landing Ground B-111)
IATA: none ICAO: ETNA
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Location	Ahlhorn, Lower Saxony, Germany
Built	1944 (1944)
In use	1945-1958 (1958)
Elevation AMSL	162 ft / 49 m
Coordinates	52°53′06″N 008°13′57″E
Map
RAF Ahlhorn Location of RAF Ahlhorn
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 09/27 6,910 2,106 Asphalt

Originally, it was a German airbase for Zeppelins. The Royal Air Force (RAF) disestablished the station and it was closed down in the autumn of 1958 and was transferred to the Bundeswehr.

History

World War I

Originally, the site was a German base for Zeppelins during World War I.[1]

World War II and beyond

During World War II the airfield was used as an Advanced Landing Ground before becoming a permanent RAF station.

Squadron	Aircraft	From	To	To	Notes
No. 14 Squadron RAF	Hawker Hunter F.4/F.6	26 September 1957	15 September 1958	RAF Gütersloh	[2]
No. 16 Squadron RAF	Hawker Tempest F.2	8 May 1947	20 May 1947	RAF Fassberg	[3]
No. 20 Squadron RAF	Hawker Hunter F.6	23 September 1957	30 August 1958	RAF Gütersloh	[4]
No. 26 Squadron RAF	Hawker Tempest F.2 Hawker Hunter F.6	8 May 1947 7 June 1958	20 May 1947 8 September 1958	RAF Fassberg RAF Gütersloh	[5] Reformed here
No. 33 Squadron RAF	Hawker Tempest F.2	8 May 1947	20 May 1947	RAF Fassberg	[6]
No. 96 Squadron RAF	Gloster Meteor NF.11	17 November 1952	12 February 1958	RAF Geilenkirchen	Reformed here[7]
No. 149 Squadron RAF	English Electric Canberra B.2	24 August 1954	17 September 1954	RAF Gütersloh	[8]
No. 193 Squadron RAF	Hawker Typhoon Ib	30 April 1945	8 January 1945	RAF Hildesheim	[9]
No. 197 Squadron RAF	Hawker Typhoon Ib	30 April 1945	8 June 1945	RAF Hildesheim	[9]
No. 213 Squadron RAF	English Electric Canberra B(I).6	1 September 1955	22 August 1957	RAF Bruggen	Reformed here.[10]
No. 256 Squadron RAF	Gloster Meteor NF.11	17 November 1952	12 February 1958	RAF Geilenkirchen	[11]
No. 263 Squadron RAF	Hawker Typhoon Ib	30 April 1945	8 June 1945	RAF Hildesheim	[12]
No. 266 Squadron RAF	Hawker Typhoon Ib	4 June 1945	8 June 1945	RAF Hildesheim	[13]
No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron	Supermarine Spitfire XVI	16 September 1945 31 August 1946	27 August 1946 7 October 1946	RAF Sylt RAF Hethel	[14]
No. 308 Polish Fighter Squadron	Supermarine Spitfire XVI	16 September 1945 9 February 1946	22 January 1946 7 October 1946	RAF Sylt RAF Hethel	[15]
No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron	Supermarine Spitfire XVI	15 September 1945 16 August 1946	July 1946 7 October 1946	RAF Sylt RAF Hethel	[16]

Current use

A number of solar panels are now visible on the site

Jagdgeschwader 73 was formed at Ahlhorn and Oldenburg on 1 April 1959. Jagdgeschwader 71 of the German Air Force were to take residence from June 1959 with 50 Canadair Sabres, Germany's first operational jet fighter unit. They remained at Ahlhorn until 1961.

A number of solar panel are now located on the former site.

See also

• List of former Royal Air Force stations

References

Citations

1. Robinson, Douglas (1971). The Zeppelin in Combat (3rd ed.). London: Foulis. p. 398.
2. Jefford 2001, p. 28.
3. Jefford 2001, p. 29.
4. Jefford 2001, p. 31.
5. Jefford 2001, p. 33.
6. Jefford 2001, p. 36.
7. Jefford 2001, p. 53.
8. Jefford 2001, p. 62.
9. Jefford 2001, p. 67.
10. Jefford 2001, p. 71.
11. Jefford 2001, p. 79.
12. Jefford 2001, p. 80.
13. Jefford 2001, p. 81.
14. Jefford 2001, p. 84.
15. Jefford 2001, p. 85.
16. Jefford 2001, p. 86.

Bibliography

• Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.

External links

• Ray Powells' memories of Ahlhorn